"They traded a future first-round pick that landed at No. 8 and a pair of seconds to bring him back to Toronto in 2023, then handed him a lucrative new contract that ensured they would have his cement-laden feet and pot-holder-covered hands in a Toronto uniform for years to come. Then, after two seasons of mediocre play, the front office decided they couldn't possibly risk losing him down the line, and gave him a massive raise on a new extension this past summer."
"No one is out there trying to overpay Jakob Poeltl to entice him away from the Raptors. The front office has built a team that is light on shooting but high on defensive versatility. Yet all of that goes out the window when Poeltl plays, who is largely limited to conservative defensive schemes (not that he is particularly good at them) and who does nothing to help floor spacing on offense."
The Raptors have repeatedly invested in Jakob Poeltl, trading future picks and giving him a lucrative contract and extension despite inconsistent play. Poeltl's limitations hurt floor spacing and constrain defensive schemes, undermining a roster built light on shooting and high on defensive versatility. A lack of reliable backup centers and failed or injured prospects left the front office clinging to Poeltl as the default starter. Recent developments and emerging center options now provide hope for a true successor, offering the team a potential path to address spacing, defensive flexibility, and roster construction moving forward.
Read at Raptors Rapture
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]